Board confirms workforce-development and veterans-advisory appointments

The Essex County Board approved a slate of advisory appointments and reappointments during the meeting.

Mister Jackson nominated Howard Weiss to be director of the Office of Workforce Development. Weiss described his long tenure with county government and his prior roles overseeing workforce and partner programs that operate under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). "The Essex County workforce development board is responsible for overseeing the workforce system in the county," Weiss said, summarizing the board’s responsibilities to coordinate funded programs, partner programs and employment services.

Also approved were nominations for Christian Barcelos and Joseph Hafez to seats on the Workforce Development Board; Barcelos described his leadership of literacy and adult-learning organizations, and Hafez (a local business owner with Halal Guys locations) said he looked forward to supporting employer and workforce initiatives. John Blanton was approved to the Commission on Aging Advisory Board, and Angel Vargas was approved to the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board; Vargas described 14 years of military and guard service and expressed interest in addressing veteran homelessness.

The board moved the full slate (appointments 1 through 15, including several reappointments) by roll call. Commissioners thanked appointees and noted that much of the county’s volunteer capacity contributes to community services and programs.